Connecticut 6 takes next step on campus at Hartford

William S. Paxton

Updated 12:47 am, Friday, November 2, 2012

HARTFORD -- The Connecticut 6 has a new twist this season with the games moving on campus at the University of Hartford, but the schools involved remain committed to the event's growth.

"The best thing it does is it builds interest in all six programs in the state," Quinnipiac coach Tom Moore said. "It gives the fans and the media a chance to look at all six of us instead of just two of us at one venue. I think that's important in a state that's small and dwarfed by UConn's big shadow."

The six dwarfs -- Hartford, QU, Central Connecticut State, Sacred Heart, Fairfield and Yale -- are entering their fourth season of the Connecticut 6, with this year's game being held on opening day of their seasons, which is Nov. 10.

"It's cool," Sacred Heart senior Nick Greenbacker said. "It definitely helps bring a lot more attention to the other programs. Most of the attention goes to UConn and rightfully so for what they have done the last 25 years. But at the same time, I think it's important that basketball fans in Connecticut realize there are six other programs in the state that do have quality basketball and have quality players on their teams."

After one year at Webster Bank Arena and two more at Mohegan Sun produced an average of 3,500 fans, this year's games could be a crowded house with Hartford's Chase Family Arena at the Reich Family Pavilion holding only 3,508 fans.

"I think it will be interesting to see how it goes this year at an on-campus site," Moore said. "On-campus sites bring a little more intimacy and collegiate feel, I think, sometimes than Mohegan Sun or Harbor Yard would, but I think those venues are great, too."

One thing working in the event's favor is that the games will be played on a Saturday, starting with Hartford vs. Quinnipiac at 3 p.m., followed by Sacred Heart and Yale at 5:30 and Fairfield-Central at 8.

Last year, the games were played on Veterans Day, which was a Friday, and the opening 3 p.m. game between SHU and Hartford had almost as many people on the court as in the stands.

"Saturday to me is the perfect time to have a college basketball afternoon," said Pat Murphy, Fairfield University's senior associate director of external affairs and business.

But the one catch to Saturday games are that three of the schools -- SHU, Yale and Central -- have football teams still playing this time of year. In an attempt to alleviate the schedule conflict for fans, two non-football schools will play first.

"I think it's a work in progress," Murphy said about trying to find the best fit for the games. "It's a great idea. (Fairfield athletic director) Gene Doris, it was his baby to get this up and started."

In coming up with the Connecticut 6, Doris borrowed from the Philadelphia Big 5, which started in 1955.

"I'm not sure how long it took the Big 5 to get together, but quite frankly, we are in year four at this point and we've done pretty well keeping it together," Doris said. "Just the good will the schools have towards each other, I think, is a plus. At some point, we'd like to see the (women's teams) get involved too, but we are not there yet."